CTE Cryostraws

CTE controlled rate freezers for cryopreservation of human zygotes, embryos, sperm and reproductive tissue were the first fully automated, commercially available freezers when approaching the human ART market in 1986. Based on the combined expertise of the medical and technical faculties at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, it is still the only system combining fully automatic seeding, highest accuracy, robustness and ultra low nitrogen consumption.

To achieve fully automatic seeding and defined ice growth, classic CTE straws have special shapes: the rectangular “tail” ensures automatic seeding (induction of ice formation) after being supercooled.

In 1997, MTG launched a new series of CTE security straws  which have been developed to combine safety against cross contamination with fully automatic seeding. They are specifically made for being used with the CTE2200 controlled rate freezer or its precursor models. The security straws have to be sealed by our heat sealer. There are three different variants – one for pronuclear stages and embryos, one for ejaculate and one for testicular or ovarian tissue. CTE straws can be stored in our cassettes fitting into the canisters of liquid nitrogen storage tanks. Alternatively, tissue straws can be stored in NUNC cryogenic boxes.

Advantages of CTE security straws

• Sterile by gamma irradiation, CE marked
• Mouse embryo (MEA) tested
• High pressure tested welding seams (50 bar) after heat sealing
• Fully automatic seeding if used with the CTE2200 controlled rate freezer